20 years Long Residence

If you have legally or illegally lived in the United Kingdom for a continuous period of twenty years, then you may be eligible to apply for Leave to Remain under 20 years Private Life and Long Residence. 

The relevant immigration rules states that a person does not have to have lived in the UK lawfully, but simply continuously. 

Under the 20-year route, you will not obtain indefinite leave to remain straight away, however, if your application is successful, you will obtain discretionary leave to remain under the 10-year route. This means that you will need to renew your visa after every two and half years until you have completed 10 lawful years under this route. 

Once you have completed ten lawful years under this route, you will be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. 

There are certain circumstances where you will be considered to have broken the chain of your twenty years residence and these are as follows:

1. Where you have spent anytime in the twenty years period in prison. 
2. Where you have been absent from the UK for a period of six months or more at anu one time. 
3. Also, if you have been illegal throughout your twenty years and you then leave the U.K. and try to retain without valid leave, you will not be eligible for leave to remain under the twenty years route. 
4. If you have left the U.K. and shown a clear intention to not return. 
5. If you have been removed or deported from the UK or have left the UK following an application refusal. 
6. If you have been convicted of an offence and given a custodial sentence or have been ordered or detained in an institution such as a hospital or young offenders institute. 
7. Or if you have spent a total of 18 months outside the UK throughout the whole 20-year period.